The Upper East Regional Secretary of the Coalition of NGOs in Health, Patrick Namoo, says funding for the government’s primary healthcare initiative could be strengthened through the use of existing taxes, including COVID-19 levies, alongside other revenue measures.
He made the remarks in an interview on A1 Radio following the rollout of the government’s primary healthcare initiative aimed at improving access to basic health services across the country.
Mr. Namoo said public confidence in healthcare financing could improve if citizens, particularly in rural communities, see transparency and accountability in how funds are used. He suggested that district assemblies could contribute through internally generated funds and called for regular public accountability forums.
“At the district assembly level, do we have initiatives where assemblies can generate internal funds to support healthcare delivery? The one holding the purse must be able to account to citizens,” he said.
On logistics, Mr. Namoo welcomed plans to deploy tricycles and motorbikes to support healthcare delivery, especially in hard-to-reach communities. He said the approach could improve access for patients, including expectant mothers, but cautioned that maintenance must be factored into implementation.
“It is a good call. It will help in moving from one community to another and support rural healthcare delivery. But we should also consider how to maintain them,” he said.
He also highlighted challenges related to poor road infrastructure and seasonal weather conditions, which could hinder movement, particularly during the rainy season.
“Linking that to the road network, you can imagine a health professional on a motorbike going to work when the rain sets in,” he said.
Mr. Namoo further stressed the need for timely distribution of resources from regional and district levels to health facilities to ensure effective service delivery.
A1 Radio | 101.1 MHz | Gifty Eyram Kudiabor | Bolgatanga
